EP 1 156 146 A1 Europdisches Patentamt » d) coma (12) Office européen des brevets, (43) Date of publication 21.11.2001 Bulletin 2001/47 (21) Application number: 00304082.1 (22) Date of fing: 18.08.2000 a EP 1 156 146 A1 EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (61) intci7: DOSD 39/08 (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GRIE/TLILU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States ALLTLV MK RO SI (71) Applicant: BRINTONS LIMITED lerminister Worcestershire DY10 1AG (GB) (72) Inventor: The designation of the inventor has not yet been filed (74) Representative: Rackham, Stephen Nell GILL JENNINGS & EVERY, Broadgate House, 7Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH (GB) (54) A carpet weaving loom (87) Acarpet weaving loom comprises one or more tuft forming units (1), each of which is capable of sup- plying yarn tufts (26) of a number of diferent colours to ‘a number of differant weaving points sequently. Tho ‘or each ofthe tut forming units (1) includes a demount- fable yarn carter (2), In this way, when it is required to change the design of carpet being woven othe creo! {@)is exhausted, the or each yam carer (2) is simply replaced by another fed from a diferent cree (3). Prt erably tho creo (3) associated with the or each sot of yam cariar is ise removable from the remainder (6) of the loom and replaceable wit the yarn cariors (2)1 EP 1156 146 A1 2 Description [0001] _Inmaking carpet, particularly patterned Axmin ster carpet, a yarn tuft forming unit Is used to provide yarn ofa particular colour to each weaving point of the carpet Inconventional Axminster weaving there are two principal ways which the yarn tuft formation is carried out. The first way is on a Jacquard Axminster loom, and the second ison spool Axminster loom, [0002] On a gripper Jacquard Axminster loom each weaving point includes a yarn carrier which is normally fed by eignt yarns usually of different colour andthe Jac: quar mechanism moves the carier to bring a selected yarn to the yarn selection position. A gripper moves to- Wards the carrie grips the yarn at the yarn selection position then relative movement apart ofthe gripper and the cartier pulls a predetermined length of yarn from the carrir. The yarn s then cut to form a tut and moved by the gripper to the weaving point. The tuft carried by tho Grippers of the appropriate colour forthe tuft to be sup- plied to the next row of carpet to be woven. For a con ventional 12 fot (4m) loom there are over & 1000 weew: Ing points across the loom and thus the ereel supplying yarn to the loom has to have the potential of carying ‘ver 8000 yam packages. Typically, when the crea! in cludes measured quantities of yarn in each yarn pack: ‘age, an allowance of an addtional eighteen metres of yarn is provided in each yarn package. Accordingly the Greater the number of yan packages the greater tho wastage, A croal of such size occupies a substantial a- ‘ea.and such a loom takes a considerable time to "throad 2 over 8000 yarn ends have to be fed through the creel and tothe individual yatn cartier. n spite of such a large cree! size a designer of such carpets is relatively limited since the number of colours available for each column of tufts extending in the warp direction of the finished carpet and corresponding to a single weaving point is imited to only eight throughout each pattern ro peal, Jacquards are also known in which the yarn cartier ccan hold sixteen aifferent yarns. These require an even larger ereol which takes even longer to thread up. [0003] Spool Axminsterloomsprovide adesignar with (greater flexibility. In spool Axminster looms a separate spool is provided for each row of the pattern repeat and ‘each spool has a separate yarn winding for each weav- Ing point along each row, Therefore, at least theoretical ly, the designer has an infinite number of colour choices for each column and row of each pattern repel, How: ‘ever, in practice, as the number of colour choices used for each column and row of the design increases, the ‘number of yarn packages needed for the spool winding ‘operation also increases, Further, the spool winder must bo threaded up diferently for the winding of each spool which is time consuming. When a large number of dt ferent colours are used in both the column and row or warp and welt direction of each patter repeat the ‘number of ifferent coloured yarn packages supplying the spool winder can be even larger than those on a cree! ofa typical Jacquard Axminster loom, The pattern repeat on spool ooms is limited by the numberof spoo}s available in the spool chain. Further, there is consider- ‘bly greater yarn wastage from a spool Axminster loom than a gripper Axminster oom because, on completion cof run, waste is generated from each weaving point of ‘ach row ofthe pattom repeat [0004] In both the Jacquard and spool Axminster looms a row of tufts for a complete row of the carpet is created simultaneously and transferred to the weaving pint at which they are woven into a backing to produce the carpet. An entialy diferent approach to yarn salec: tion for carpet production has recently been proposed in WO 95/81594. In this, itis proposed that tufts of yarn to form a row of the carpet are produced by frst loading yarn tufts nto a tuft carrier and then transferring the yarn tufts from the tuft carrier to the weaving points. To achieve this a large number of diferent tuft forming nts, typically one per weaving point, aro provided ‘along the length of apath with typically each tut forming Lunt being supplied with yarn of only single colour, AS the tuft carter is moved along the path it recelves tufts ‘of appropriate colour in each ofits tut holding sites, The tuft carrioris subsequently moved so that athe tufts for ‘each row can be gripped by grippers and transferred to tho weaving point simultaneously. Thus, the tufts arent usually allformed simultaneously and hence the tuft for- ‘mation ig, a least to some extent, decoupled from the weaving operation, Therefore, tuft formation can take place at the same time as the weaving operation and thus tut formation can take place substantially continu ‘ously throughout the operation ofthe loom. This is to be contrasted with the conventional spool or gripper type looms where tuft formation takes place over only about haif of each woaving cycle. [0005] In examples given in WO 95/31594 itis sug- {gostedthat party as a result of forming the tuts through ‘outthe entire weavingcyctetis possibleto, for example, Increase the speed ofthe tuft forming operation by four times. itis also explained that I this were possible and it was intended to operate the loom at the same speed ‘8 a conventional loom then it would be possible to ro- duce the size of is creel by a quarter since, in effect, each tuft forming unit would supply tuts forfour weaving points. However, nowhere inthis document does it ex- fempliy an arrangement in which there are less yarn packages than the number of weaving points and s0 ‘even this arrangement requires a substantial creel and a substantial time to thread up the loom during which no carpet production takes place [0008] In another patent specication filed on the ‘same day as this and having the Attorney Reference ‘SNROG7S7EP a carpet weaving loom is doscribed Which includes one or more tuft forming unis, the or ‘each of which supplies tuts to a large number of weav- ing points, typically a number of tens of weaving points, sequentially. loom, particularly one for producing sam- ples may have only a single tuft forming unit and this3 EP 1156 146 A1 4 ‘may supply tuts for three hundred or more weaving points. Typically, or carpet production the loom includes a plurality of tuft forming units and each supplies tufts forbetween tity and one hundred weaving points. With uch an arrangement a great reduction in the number ‘of yarn packages in the creel is obtainable since the po: tential number of yarn packages is that needed conven tionally divided by the number of weaving points sup- plied by the or each tuft forming unit so reducing It to below one hundredin some instances, whilst also giving the designer a greater numberof colour choices in each column af tufts extending in the warp direction [0007] According to this invention a carpet woaving oom comprises one or more tut forming units, each of hich is capable of supplying yarn tufts of a number of different colours to a number of diferent weaving points sequential, characterized in that the or each ofthe ttt forming units includes a demountable yarn carrot. [0008] The yarn supple forthe or each demountable yarn carrier are provided from acreel which may beixed In position and formed in two pars. In this case yarn from one partis threaded through guides and into the ‘one or more demountable yarn carriers associated with the tuft forming units on the loom. When itis required to change the design of carpat to be woven, or when tho creel’ exhausted, the or each of the demountable yarn carriers are removed fromthe loom and merely replaced by diferent yarn carriers which are fed from yarn in the ‘thar part ofthe creel. The two pars ofa fixed creel aro preferably located side-by-side but they may also bell ‘cated one behind the other. [0009] Preferably however the or each demountable yarn carrier is supplied with yar from a creel which is Itself removable from the remainder ofthe loom and re placeable when the design of carpet tobe woven chang: es orthe creelis exhausted. tay be desirable tomove the creel using equipment such as forclit truck but, preferably, the creel is mounted on wheels so that itcan bbe wheeled towards andl away from the remainder ofthe oom, typically manually [tis of course possible to spit the cree! into @ number of units each of which supplies yarn to one or more ofthe ttt forming units but prefer: ‘ably the entire crea! is formed as a single unit supplying the oral of the tut forming units, [0010] With the arrangement in accordance with this Invention the yarn ean be supplied to the ereel and threaded through guides and into the or each demount: ‘able yarn cariar whilst the loom, using a diferent sat of yarn carriers and a differant crael or a different part of the cree, is weaving carpet. By being able to thread up the cree! guides and yarn carriers either away from the loom or, in any event, whilst the looms already produc: Ing carpet, thereis effectively no need forany significant downtime in carpt production when changing from one design of carpet to the next or when changing the creel ‘once tis exhausted. Al that is requiredis toremove the yarn carter from the or each tuft forming unit and re: place itby another yarn carrer or cariers which are al: ready threaded up with yam from a different supply then, immediately, the loom is once again ready to pro- duce carpet but, typically, carpet of a diferent design such as a diferent pattern or colour [0011] Preferably the creel is located behind the woaver, that isto say it is located on the opposite side Of the loom from the warp thread entry and shedaling arrangements. This is unusual because in conventional carpet weaving looms the creel is on the same side of the loom as the warp thread entry and shedding at- rangements and so is located “behind” the loom and in front ofthe weaver. When the ereelis located infront of the loom, guides are prferably arranged to cary the yams over the top of the weavers position. The guides ‘may be formed by a series of thread carrying eyes andl or all or part of the guides may be formed by conven tional yarn tubes, This is particularly useful when the yarn passes over the top of the weaving postion since tho tubes protect tho weaver from yam dbs. When tho loom includes & movable cree! the guides are preferably attached to and move with the cree. [0012] The creel may include a number of package holders each of which supports the bobbin ofa conven tional yarn package or, alternatively, the creel may in- clude @ number of inaividual containers or cals each of \which contains a length of yarn and accordingly be gen erally similarto thal describedin our earlier specication EP-A.0068478, Preferably the yarn supplies on the cree! are of a predetermined length matched to those required forthe particular design of carpat to be woven, [0013] Tho or each yarn tuft forming unit preferably includes means to dive the yam carrier into a selected ‘one of anumber of discrete positions to bring a selected yar to a loading positon, a puller for engaging the se- lected yarn atthe loading position and pulling a prede termined length of the selected yam from the selector Whee), anda cutting mechanism to cutthe selacted yarn to form a tuft of predetermined length [0014] Each yarn carrier may carry yams of diferent colour spaced apar in the longtudinal direction of the yarn carrier, and means to drive the yarn camer in the longitudinal direction to select yarn of aparicular colour Thus, the yarn carrier may be ganerally similar to that sed on a conventional gripper Axminster loom bul, in this case, it is preferred that the yarn cartier is moved longitudinally by, for example, a servometor under com- pputer control such as is described in EP-A-0785301 Preferably however, the or each tuft forming unit in- cludes a yam selector wheel with provision for holaing number of diferent yams arranged around it and ‘means to move the selector wheel into a selected one ‘of a number of angularly dserete postions, The yarns ‘may be arranged around the periphery af the selactor \wheo! and extend ina direction generally parallel to its axis of rotation, but, preferably the yams extend gener: ally radially tothe periphery of the wheel. Typically, such ‘a yam selector whee! has provision for containing more than 10 afferent yarns and typically 12,16.24 or 32 dt-5 EP 1156 146 A1 6 ferent yarns. Preferably the selector wheels driven into ‘and between is predetermined angular positions by a sservomotor under the control of computer. A particular ‘example of such a tuft forming untis described in detail In a patent application (attorney's reference ‘SNROS408EP) filed on the same date as the present ‘application. [0015] Preferably ne or each yarn cari is demount: ‘able from the remainder of the or each tuft forming unit Without the use of tools of any kind. The yarn cartier pre erably includes engagement means which cooperate with the means to drive the yarn carrier to ensure that the yam carier responds to movement of the drive ‘means and a retainer to hold the yarn carrier in position The retainer may be a simple press-on or snap-on iting Including, for example, a spring loaded detent to hold the yam earier in postion. Alternatively, the retainer ‘may include a positive lock or latch operated by, forex: ‘ample, a lever, positively to lock the yam carrer into po: sition [0016] A particular example of a loom in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a parly sectioned side elevation of tho loom: Figure 2 is a echomatic Isometric view of the yarn ‘supply path of a first example, Figure 3 is a schematic isometric vow of the yarn ‘supply path of a second example, Figure 4 Isa sectional side elevation of the main weaving par of the loom, Figure Sis a partly sectioned view of part ofthe tft forming unit Figure 6 isa plan view of the selector wheel; Figure 7 is @ diagrammatic viow ofthe tuft forming unit at the start ofthe tuft forming operation Figure 8 is diagrammatic view ofthe tft forming Unit atthe end of the tuft forming operation; Figure 9 is a simplified front elevation of two tuft forming units; Figure 10 is an exploded isometric view showing a first example of Interconnection between the yarn slactor wheel and the yarn selector motor, and Figure 11 isa vertical section through a second ex- ‘ample of interconnection between the yam selector heel and the yarn selector motor [0017] carpet weaving loom comprises one or more tuft forming units 1 each of which supplies yarn tuts to ‘a numberof itferent weaving points and each of which Includes a demountable yarn carrier 2, a movable creel 3 orholding supplies of yarn, and guides 4to guide yarn from a supply § onthe creel Sto the or each yam carrier 2, In which the or each demountable yam carrier 2, creel and guides 4 are removable from the remainder of the loo 6 and replaceable when the design of carpet to be woven changes. The creel is lacated in the front of the loom and behind the weavers position 7, This is on the ‘opposite side of the loom from the warp beam (nat shown) from which the warp threads @ are provided. The completed carpet is collected on a roll 9 [0018] In the first example of yarn supply path the creo! typeally contains several stands 10 each contain ing a number of yam packages 5, The arrangement ‘shown in Figure 2 shows each stand containing twoive yam packages 5. Yarn from each package Sis threaded Via eyes 11 to a further guide arrangement 4 which con- sists of conventional yarn tubes 12 as shown in Figure 2 passing over the weaving position 7. However these tubes 12 may be replacedby further eyes 11. Apart from containing many fewer packagas and being formed so thatthe cree! 3 is moveabla, this example of creel 3 is otherwise conventional in construction, As shown the cree! is typically mounted on wheels 13 so that itcan bbemovedmanually towards and away from the remain ddor6 ofthe loom, [0019] The second example of yarn supply is shown In Figura andiis based an the type of yarn supply creel scribed fully in EP-A-0058478, In this arrangement a ‘number of rectangular containers 14 are arranged to form a rectangular aray 18, Figure 3 merely ilustrates a simple 6 x 6 array for the purposes of Ilustration but the array 15 may include more. Each container 14 in- cludes a premeasured length of yam. The yam from ‘each container 14s threadedthrough yarn tubos 16 and then through yarn tubes 12 passing over the weavers postion 7 to the demountable yarn caries 2. The array 18 of containers 14 may be mounted on wheels, but, in this example itis intended to be moved into and out of position against the loom by a forklift truck. Accordingly its base includes feet 17 arranged to accommodate the iting forks ofa fork lit truck (not shown). [0020] The loom includes one or mote tut forming Units 1, each of which includes a yam selector wheel 2 \which typically holds 12 or 24 yarns 20 of different col ‘our. The yarn selector wheel 2 is detachably mounted onto a yam selector motor 21 which rotates the selector whee! 2 into one of @ number of angularly discreet po- sions to select yarn of a predetermined colour. As can bbe saen from Figure 6 the yams 20 of diferent colour are all arranged generally radially around the selector whee! 2in generally racially extending channels andare held in place by springs 22. The loom includes a pair of tuft carriers 23, mounted for rotation about an axis 24 ‘and a set of grippers 25 that are entirely conventional in7 EP 1156 146 A1 8 construction and use, As the tuft forming units 1 traverse the loomin the forwards direction, tuts 26 are placed in tuft retention sites 27 (shown in Figure 9) formed along the top edge of the tuft carrier 23. When all ofthe tft retention sites 27 have been loaded, the tuft carer 28 rotates clockwise (as seen in Figura 4) about the axis 24 to move the loaded tuft carier 23 into the lowermost postion and to move an empty tuft carrier 28 into the LUppermost position, The tut forming units 1 then load lufls 26 into the uppermost tuft carrer 23 as they traverse backwards across the loom, [0021] The grippers 25 move upwards, clockwise as seen in Figure 4, with their beaks open and then close to grip all ofthe tufts 28 held by the lowormost tuft cartier 28. The grippers 25 then rotatein the opposite direction to move the tufts 26 to the weaving point 28 where the tufts 26 are woven into the carpet and the grippers 25 ‘open to release the tuts 26. The beat up reeds and ra: pir watt insertion mechanism have been omited from Figure 4 for clarity but are entirely conventional and sim llarto those used on conventional gripper Axminster car: pot looms, [0022] The tuft forming unit + ie shown in simplified form for ease of explanation in Figures 7 to 9 and pro- Vides positive handling of each yarn tuft 26 during ts formation and upon insertion into each tuft holding site 27 on yan carrier 28. Each yam tut forming unit 1 i cludes a gear box which consists of three parallel shafts 20,31,32 on which are mounted three equal sized pin ons 33,3435 which are meshed together. One of the shafts 20,31,2is drivandiractly by a servemotor a6 and a further pinion 37 as shown in Figure 8. Allthroe shafts 90,91,92 are drilled to cany eccentric pins. Pin 38 is ‘mounted in shaft $0 and is connected to rod 39 and pin 40, Rod 29 is journalled into body 50 of puller $1 so that itean slide up and down as seen in Figures 7 and, The body 50 is pivoted a ts upper end on pivat 82. Conso- quently, as shaft 30 rotates, counterclockwise as seen In Figure 7, the pin 38 and rod 39 move up and down With respect to the body 50 and the body 50 is caused to pivot backwards and forwards about is pivot §2. The puller includes a pair of pivoted limbs 53,54 with jaws '55 mounted at heir lowermost ends. The upper ends af the limbs 53,54 ate urged together by a spring 56 to ‘cause the limbs to pivot and open the jaws 55. The pin 40 moves up and down with respect to cam surfaces 657,58 on tho limbs 62,59 to urge the Jaws 65 togethor \when in ts uppermost position and, in is lowermost po- ston, allow the limbs 52,53 to respond to the bias ex- erted by the spring 56, to open the jaws 55. [0023] Amoveable blade 60 ofa knife assembly 6t is driven up and down by a link 62 connected between the ‘moveable blade 60 and an eccentric pin 63 mounted in tho shail 31, The rear faco of the moveable knife blade carries a pair of guide cheeks 84 which locate between the limbs 62,59 when they are in thei forwards position ‘Aixed knife blade 65 includes an aperture 68 adjacent the edge ofthe selector wheel 2 and into which the yarn ‘ends protrude. An eccentric pin 70 in the third shaft 32 drives one end of a first order lever 71 via a link 72. A ppusher73 located atthe other end o the fist order lever 71 moves up and down between the guide cheeks 64, [0024] To produce each tut, the yarn selector motor 21 rotates the selector wheel2to bring the selected yarn tea location adjacent the puller 51, The body 60 of the puller is pivoted forwards with the pin 40 towards its low- termost position so that the jaws §5 ate open. As the shaft 30 continues to rotate the pin 40 lifts and is moved between the cam surfaces 57.58 so closing the jaws 65 ‘and clamping the free end ofthe solected yarn between thom. Further rotation ofthe shaft 30 causes the body 50 of the puller 51 to pivot backwards so pulling yarn through the selector wheel 2 and trom the creel 3. Ro- tation of shaft $1 causes the moveable blade 60 of the knife assembly 61 to move downwards. As the blade 60 ‘moves downwards the length of yar being puladby the puller is trapped between the guide checks 64. Once the puller 81 has moved backwards to its maximum ex- tent the continued downwards movement of the knife blade 60 cuts the yarn to form a tuft 26 which Is held between the guide cheeks 64 asthe knife blade 60.con- tinues to move downwards on an avertravel. Meanwhile rotation of shaft 2 causes the pusher 7 to mave down wards between the guide cheeks 64. Further rotation of shaft 30 causes the pin 40 to be lowered away trom the ‘cam surfaces 56,57 60 that the jaws 5 open under the action ofthe spring 66. Further rotation of the shaft 32 brings the pusher 73 into contact with the top ofthe tuft 26 held betwoen the guide cheeks 64 and continued ro tation of the shaft $2 causes the tuft 26 fo be pushed Into a tuft retention site 27 on the ttt carrier 23, Contin LUed rotation of the shaft 31 moves the moveable knife blade 60 upwards. Meanwhile the yarn selector motor 21 moves the selector wheel 2to bring the next yam to be salocted into position. Continued rotation of shatis 80 and 32 move the pullor 51 forwards into postion to Grip the next yarn and move the pusher 73 upwards ready forthe next cycle of operation, [0025] Figure 10 shows one example of the demount: ‘able connection between the selector whee! 2 and the yam selactor motor 21. Inthis example the selector mo- {or 21 drives a shaft 80 which includes a collar 81 and further keyed shaft 82, It also includes a radial bore 83 ‘Ahead 84 of the selector whee! 2 includes a female re- ‘cass to acoopt the keyed shaft &2 and also includes a radial bore 86. A generally cular leaf spring 86 carries 2 radially extending pin 87. The spring 86 is normally filed onto the head 84 of the selector whee! 2 with the pin 87 being inserted into the bore 85, [0026] Tofitthe selector whee! 2 onto the shaft 80 the head 84 of the selector whee! 2 is marely pushed onto the ond of the keyed shaft 82 and rotated until their matching key ways slide together. Then, a free end 88 Cf the spring is raised to move the pin 87 radially out- ‘wards to allow the head 84 fo side along the keyed shaft £82 uni eomes to rest against the collar 81, Releasing8 EP 1156 146 A1 the free end 88 ofthe spring 86 then allows the pin 87 toppass onto the bore 83 to lock the selector wheel Zinto postion on the shaft 80 ofthe selector wheel motor 21 Toremove the selector wheelto the operator merely Its the free end 88 ofthe spring 86 to disengage the pin @7 from the bore 83 and then pulls the selector wheal of the keyed shaft 82, [0027] A second example of interconnection is shown in Figure 11. Again the shaft 80 of the selector wheel ‘motor 21 Includes a key 90 located in a key-way cut in the shaft 80, The shaft 80 also includes an annular {groove 91, The selector whee! 2 includes a head portion £84 having a sleeve 92 which fits around tho shaft and kay 90. The sleave 82 includes three tapered apertures 9 each of which locates a ball 94, A collar 95 having ‘an internal tapered surface 96 surrounds the sleeve 92 ‘and is urged away trom the selector wheel 2 by three compression springs 97. The internal tapered surtace 96 ofthe colar 95 contacts the outer surface of the balls {94 and urges thom radially inwards so that they engage the groove 91 in the shaft 0 of the selector motor 24 Thus, the selector wheel 2 is prevented from rotating with respect tothe shat 80 by the inter-engagement of the kay 90 and the key-way, ands held in place by the balls 94 engaging n the annular groove $1 [0028] To remove the selector whee! 2 the colar 96 is merely pushed downwards, as shown in Figure 11 ‘against the bias ofthe springs 97, which then allows the balls 94 to move radially outwards, out the groove 91 sothat the head 84 ofthe selector wheel 2canbe simply slid downwards of the shaft 80. Similarly, to replace tho selector whee! 2 the head is simply rotated until the key 90 and key way are alignedand then the head 2s simply pushed upwards into position, whilst holding the colar 95 doprossed against the bias ofthe springs 97. Upon rleasing the prassure on the collar 95 the springs 97 urge the collar 95 upwards and this, in turn, urges the balls 94 radially invards so that they lock into the annu lar groove 91 Claims 1. Acarpet weaving loom comprising one or more tuft forming units (1), each of which is capable of sup- plying yarn tufts (26) toa number of diferent colours toanumoerof differant weaving points sequently, ‘characterized in that the or each ofthe tuft forming units (1) includes a demountable yarn cartior (2) 2. A carpet weaving loom according to claim 1, in Which the yarn supplies for the or each demounta: blo yarn cariar (2) are provided trom a cree! (3) hich is fixed in position and formed in two parts; yarn from one part being threaded through guides ‘and into all of the one or more demountable yarn carriers (2) associated withthe tut forming units (1) ‘on the loom, s0 enabling the or each of the de: 10. 10 ‘mountable yarn carriers (2) o be removed from the loom and replaced by diferent yarn carters (2) \which are all fed from yar in the other part of the cree! (8), when itis required to change the design ‘of carpet to be woven, oF when the creel (2) is ex: hausted. ‘A campet weaving loom according to claim 1, in Which the or each demountable yam carrier (2) is supplied with yarn from a creel (8) whichis ise re- ‘movable from the remainder of the loom and re- placeable when the design of carpet to be woven ‘changes or the creel (2) s exhausted ‘A campet weaving loom according to claim 3, in hich the cree! (8) is mounted on wheels (13) s0 that ean be wheeled towards the way from the re- ‘mainder of the loom, typicaly manually ‘carpet weaving loom according to claim 3 or 4, in which guides (4) attached to and moving with the creel (8) are provided to guide the yarn from the creel(3) tothe or each demountable yarn carior (2) ‘A carpet weaving loam according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the crea! (3) is located behind the weaver (7) and on the opposite side of the loom trom the warp thread entry (8) and shed: ding arrangements, A carpet weaving loom according to claim 6, in which guides (4) carry the yarns over the top of the weavers position (7), and the guides are formed by a series of yarn tubes (12), ‘A carpet weaving loom according to any one of the preceding claims, in which includes a number of package holders each of which supports the bobbin (6) of conventional yam package o, alternatively the ereel includes a number of individual containers ‘orcolls (14) each of which contains alangth of yarn. ‘Acarpet weaving loom, according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the yarn supplies on the creel (8) are all of a predetermined length and ‘matched to those requlred for the particular design ‘of carpot to bo woven. ‘Acarpot weaving loom according to any one of tho preceding claims, in which the or each yarn tuft forming unit (1) includes means (21) to dive the yarn cartier 2) Into a selected one of a numberof ‘scrote postions to bring a selected yarn (20) to a loading positon a puller (51) fr engaging the so- lected yarn (20) atthe loading postion and puling 4 predetermined length ofthe selected yarn (20) from the selector whee! (2) and a cutting mecha: nism (61) to cutthe selected yarn (20) to form att1". 2. 13. " EP 1156 146 A1 (26) of predetermined length. ‘A carpet weaving loom according to any one of the preceding claims, In which the or each yarn carrier (2) is demountable from the remainder of the or ‘each tut forming unit (1) without the use of tools of any kind ‘A carpet weaving loom according to claim 11, in which the yarn carrier (2) Includes engagement ‘means (82,80) which cooperate withthe means (21) to drive the yam carrier (2) to ensure that the yarn ccarriar responds to movement of the drive meane (21) and a retainer (88,87,91,94) to hold the yarn cartier (2) in position, ‘A carpet weaving loom according to claim 12, in Which the rotainer is simple prass-on or snap-on fitting or, altematively the retainer includes a posi- tive lock or lich operable to lock the yam carrier into position Ea 12[0 2o (2 20 EP 1156 146 A1 N A N a “A 2o Fig 2 10EP 1156 146 A1 AA AHA AAA WW WAY AA7 \ WOO WWYAAZA WAS WAYSEP 1156 146 A1 4 o neEP 1156 146 A1 i 21 | i i Fie S ; 20 S 22. 2o ~ Lo 20 2 N\ Lo Fig 6 LoEP 1156 146 A1 424 yOLOW YOLIATAS naval | | cryEP 1156 146 A1 8?4 yOLOW ¢YOLIATAS NY te i i | “i | | 4EP 1156 146 A1 18EP 1156 146 A1EP 1156 146 A1 European Peter! EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT eae free EP 00 30 4082 [___ DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Gaage) Chin dourwtvih cuir wten eerotan, | Gabon T Sadenepeaages A [cB 2 190 107 A (CRABTREE) 1 | pos03eye8 11 Novenber 1967 (1987-11-11) | the whole docunent. * | __|i2elem= | ApbueKmON tein” | A.D WO 95 31594 A (ULSTER CARPET MILLS) (23 Novenber 1995 (1995-11-23) JA |DE.15 35 755 B (BRINTONS) {2 aanuary 1970 {1976-01-62) ‘AD | EP @ 058 478 A (BRINTONS) 25 August 1982 (1982-08-25) | Teiwen reugs sean "Yotoun 63D ~ | |__ aourevecter, ¢ ‘aiaSORY OF CeO BOCIRENTS then eta nee a er pou nace ie aoe Seceiegan 1 fatese ef eoined wt arta 0 onset cr agen "7EP 1156 146 A1 European Patent open ter om EP 60 30 4a82 | CLAIMS INCURRING FEES ‘Tho present European patent application comprised at the time offing more than ten clans, | J ona orna is hve boon pa win th seb ina it ha procrt Eepean search| ‘eporthas been drawn Up fr the "st ten cles and or those claims far which cams lees have ‘boon paid, namely cla) ‘No claims fons nave boen pad wit the prescbed ime lit. The present European soarch repet has Been drawn up forthe fet fon asim, LACK OF UNITY OF INVENTION “Th Search Division corse that he prectEuxapean patent application doesnot comply wan the {aqutecnars of unty of ventonand rats lo severalinvensons a groups or nwentons: hay: see sheet B | [Ey Ataatnor soare os hav bon pd thn thsi ini, The resent Eopoan sah pot hae ‘been orawn up fra aims ‘Asal searchable cisime could be searched wihout ert justiying en adstiona fe, the Search Division | ‘i not vie payment of any adonal foe. L oxtypat ot ete gach fos have ben pa win he te tei The preset Epon ‘earth report has bean drawn up for hose pats of Ine Eulopeanpatortappicallon which rate tthe Sventone respect of which search eas have been paid, nama ells [None ote tute each foes have ban ad witin he hed ine Kt. The presen Euopaan seach | ‘pont has boen draw up for those pars ofthe European patent apoicaton which eae tothe vention ft mertoned nthe lars, eamely calms: 1, 10-13 18EP 1156 146 A1 Evopan Patel | ACK OF UNTY OF INVENTION a SHEET B EP 08 30 4082 “Tne Search Division considers that the presont European patent application does not comply with the ] requirements of un of vention and reals to Severe Invantone or groups oimontors Neely | 1. Claims: 1,10-13 Yarn tuft forming unit with demountable yarn carrier | 2. Claims: 2-9 Creel 19EP 1156 146 A1 ANNEX TO THE EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT ‘ON EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION NO, EP 90 39 4082 This snextts th pat fay mambers ling tn peta! docunentscked inthe ebeve:mertoned European search repr. ‘The panbers ar as corners nha Euepean Pte! Ofte EDP fon ‘Tha European Patent Otis sno way leo axe paras which ar may given fr the pupae ftom. 19-01-2001 | Paertceaerent atiaton Pato emiy Paticaton | odin nh ap 0 meno) cs 8 2190107 A E wo 9531594 A AU 681968 B 11-09-1997 AU 2450995 A 05-12-1995 Ch 1143396 A,B 19-02-1997 DE 69508936 D 12-05-1999 DE 69508936 T 05-08-1999 ok 759161 T 18-10-1999 £ 0759101 A 26-02-1997 ES 2132664 T 16-08-1999 JP 10503246 T 24-03-1998 | Us "5743306 A 28-04-1998 | DE 1535755 8B 02-01-1970 BE 671152 A 20-08-1966 | 1075082 A 12-07-1967 EP 58478 A 25-08-1982 AU 570135 B 03-03-1988, | AY 4390085 A 10-04-1986, | AU 558612 B 05-62-1887 AU 7994282 A 12-08-1982 | DE 3272954 D 09-10-1986 DE 3280001 D 30-11-1989 EP 0154355 A 11-09-1985, TE 52692 8 20-01-1988 TE 52693 8 20-01-1988 NZ 199572 8 16-98-1985 20